Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Balance -- Step on the Scale, please...

Keep It Simple

In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play.
---Friedrick Nietzsche

All of us have a child inside. We may see that child as a friend or as a enemy. Many of us were taught that growing up meant doing away with our inner child. It was as if being a child was bad and being an adult was good.

If we try to be only an adult, the child cries, ”Let me run free and show you the beauty of the world.” If we try to be only a child, we find the adult in using us saying, “It’s time to grow up.”

Let’s find a balance. Remember, the adult needs the wonder found in the eyes of the child. Remember, the child needs the loving care of the adult. The child lives where we find our spirit. Our Higher Power is the prefect balance of the two.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me be both the child and the adult. I need both.
Action for the Day: Today, I’ll make time to be a child and to be an adult.



ME?

Nietzsche -- brings back memories of a course I took as an undergraduate in college -- existentialism. Although I enjoy philosophising, I agonized through this course.

When I signed up for the course, I didn't even know what existentialism meant. My Motivation for enduring lectures on the obscure meaning of life, death and the intermittent? No classes on Fridays!

Ah, the warped mentality of an addict.

Although the famous philosopher's statement is sexist, I do agree we should embrace and nurture our inner child. For some of us, however, we regress, and have difficulty finding the balance.

Balance... if it were easy, why would we coin the phrase 'balancing act'?

I see things in either bright neon or black and white.
I think north and south or east and west -- polar extremes.
I still can't have just one -- and that's not just potato chips.
A day does not go by that I don't question my existence and wonder whether I should live or die.



I was told in early recovery the more I find peace, the less my moods and desires would swing. The more I drift away from the program and a spiritually sound lifestyle, I have come to believe the fellowship was correct.

Will I ever become a balanced individual?

NOW: Susan = Susan + /Susan

= American's Next Top Model + Little Women
= single cheese & fries + grilled chicken salad
= Pessimist + Optimist
= superficial + cerebral
= Playful + grounded
= runaway + role model
= selfish + selfless
= hopeless + hopeful
= hopeful + hopeless
= child + adult

GOAL: Susan = A Balanced ME

Sue

For my Followers: G wasn't at the game, nor did I expect him to be. But I'll keep you posted (wink and a smile).

What's your equation and how do you create Balance in your life?


20 comments:

Shadow said...

i'm a black/white kinda person, and i don't think it necessarily effects my balance... when it comes to my daily living, routine and stuff. in fact, it makes it easier to make descions. the hard part is when that 'f*&% it' attitude kicks in, that's when the extremes are 'the killer'....

Diana said...

Everything changes so quickly. It's guaranteed that as soon as you get used to something, it will change. So when I don't like something, someone or a certain circumstance, I just give it a few minutes and it changes.
I have heard that the only real guarantee in life is that nothing stays the same!
Love Di

Anonymous said...

Amen, a balanced me too. Too bad Mr. G wasn't there last night. I thought about you when I posted my Real Me post this morning. I think you'll like that song. If you get a chance, drop by and check it out. ((hugs))

Akelamalu said...

Nothing stays the same, no matter how much one would like it to. Life goes on, and on, and on.......

Thanks for visiting me and taking the time to comment. :)

Wait. What? said...

I think I am doing a much better job with balance these days and that child that I had repressed for so long, gets to come out and teaches me how to have fun once in a While...

Busy Bee Suz said...

I am just figuring out how to balance things...it has taken quite a while and I am still working on it. I know it is different for each of us.
I also have found that I have way too much of the inner child still rambling around in me...and I like it!!!
ps. I may have taken that crazy class too, just to ensure Fridays were off. ;0

Tall Kay said...

Finding balance continues to be one of my biggest challenges too. I think serenity lives in that place of balance. It's an ongoing endeavor.

I believe God does live in that place too. Have a great day!

Lou said...

I work hard and I play hard. I make time to connect with friends. I read for critical thinking and for pleasure. I watch documentaries and B movies. I put my heart on the line, I let my guard down. I forgive my family. I'll say I'm sorry first.

Hey, my list is alot like yours!

Dulçe ♥ said...

Finding the perfect balance... if it's about the adult and child inside us ...The child has to be supported all the time by the adult. Both have to be recognized, loved and accepted to be able to live in peace. The problem is when the child takes the power and the adult is not mature enough to take it back.

diane d said...

This is something I'm working on, having just figured out how I need to grow up. It should be interesting trying to find a balance in it all.

Reader Wil said...

Very philosophical post, Susan! I usd to be philosophical, but I changed into a more superficial person, and I feel happier than when I was young. I enjoy the circumstances now and I'll see what tomorrow happens.
Thanks for your visit. You're right the recorder is not an instrument for schoolchildren, not if you want to play baroque and renaissance music.

The neverending battle of child's opiate addiction said...

Yep, no so great at balance myself. Baby steps for me right now, balancing taking care of my own needs and desires with the struggle of co-dependency. Nice post...thanks for the reminder. I think I will find some inner child today.

Bar L. said...

Wow! Just last night I was writing in my journal about how its time for me to GROW UP. I have not found the balance. I usually am an all or nothing kind of person but am trying hard to learn that "gray" is ok, things don't have to be black or white. Its so hard! I think my son is the same - that's one of his reasons for addiction. I am going to follow here to find out more about Mr. G (and thank you for following along with me too!)

Jared | SpiritualZen.net said...

I only learned balance once I learned I was not going to die from uncomfortable emotions. Ebb and flow, this too shall pass.

robert said...

For now nearly two years find much balance here:
http://stefanorfeas.blogspot.com

Swatantra said...

Very cute post!!

Reminding me of a quote, Let's be children in forgiveness and innocence and lets be adult in passion...

Laura said...

Thanks for the comment you left on my blog! I appreciate it.

One of my kids was just asking me the other day if it was better to be a kid or an adult. I told them that there were good and bad things about both.
After we had the talk I really thought about it for awhile. A lot of what you said here in your blog makes sense.
((Hugs))
Laura

Trudy said...

I'm not a very balanced person. For instance, when I fall in love with a new hobby, I want to do it all the time, have all the things that make it cooler, and I forget nearly everything else. Yes, my housekeeping suffers, as well as the rest of my life.

I think when I started knitting, I let myself stay in too much, I dropped my reading, which I love, I wasn't as social... even went into another room when I was at our son's house to knit. My grandchildren would sit with me and I let them play with some of the yarn and the fun things that wouldn't hurt them, but I wasn't truly focusing on them like I should.

I think anything you get abosorbed with to that point is imbalance--it's addiction. It was the same way when I fell in love with painting, with sketching, with every craft I've ever done. But at some point, I put it all away or give it away, and cease doing it. I can't learn to balance well at all. Oh, thanks for leaving your nice comment at my blog today.

Trudy

dark wings said...

Geez, I wish I were balanced:)

Syd said...

I let the child within play and enjoy life. That is something that recovery has helped me with. And life does feel much more balanced for me now.